Omp85 proteins of Neisseria gonorrhoeae and Neisseria meningitidis, compositions containing same and methods of use thereof

ABSTRACT

Nucleic acid and amino acid sequences of the Omp85 proteins of  N. gonorrhoeae  and  N. meningitidis , and fragments thereof are useful in vaccine compositions, therapeutic compositions and diagnostic compositions for use in the prevention, treatment and diagnosis of non-symptomatic gonococcal infection or symptomatic disease and non-symptomatic meningococcal infection and symptomatic disease. Antibodies are developed to these proteins and also useful in the compositions and methods described herein.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/606,618, filed Jun. 26, 2003, now pending, which is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/994,192, filed Nov. 26, 2001, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,610,306, issued Aug. 26, 2003, which is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/177,039, filed Oct. 22, 1998, now abandoned.

This invention was made with government support under grant Nos. AI21235 and AI37777, awarded by the National Institute of Health. The government has certain rights in this invention.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates generally to the cloning and identification of novel outer membrane proteins of several strains of Neisseria, and more specifically to proteins useful in the prevention, therapy and/or diagnosis of infection and diseases in mammals caused by these strains.

The pathogenic Neisseriae cause several important non-symptomatic infections and symptomatic diseases in humans. Neisseria gonorrhoeae is the agent of non-symptomatic gonococcal infection or symptomatic disease, i.e., gonorrhea. Neisseria meningitidis is the agent of a rapidly progressive spinal meningitis, which may also have a non-symptomatic infective stage. The surfaces of such pathogens provide crucial interfaces for interactions between the pathogen and the host. Many bacterial virulence factors are outer membrane proteins, and surface exposed proteins are the primary targets recognized and attacked by the host's immune system. Thus, the role of outer membrane proteins is of particular importance in understanding the pathogenesis of these organisms. The most abundant and immunodominant outer membrane proteins of the pathogenic Neisseriae have been studied extensively (Sparling P. F. et al, Clin. Invest., 89: 1699-1705 (1992)). For example, it is known that the immunodominant components of the gonococcal surface are antigenically variant, suggesting that this organism is capable of adapting to varying host environments while avoiding host immune responses. Although the major gonococcal surface proteins have been extensively studied, little is known about less abundant proteins and their contributions to pathogenesis.

Two-dimensional electrophoresis (IEF and SDS-PAGE) of labeled, e.g., radioiodinated or biotinylated, gonococcal surface proteins suggested that numerous (>20) of the less abundant gonococcal outer membrane proteins remained uncharacterized (unpublished observations). Among these might be proteins which play an important role in infection.

For example, surface-exposed outer membrane proteins of other microorganisms, e.g., Haemophilus influenzae D15 surface antigen (D-15-Ag) and the Pasteurella multocida Oma87, have been found to be useful in eliciting antibodies that were protective against infectious challenge in animal models. The Omp85-like D-15-Ag was conserved in both non-typeable and typeable strains of H. influenzae and was recognized by convalescent patient sera; affinity-purified anti-D-15-Ag serum was protective in the rat pup model (Thomas, W. R., et al, Infect. Immun., 58:1909-1913 (1990); Flack, F. S. et al, Gene, 156:97-99 (1995)]). H. influenzae serotypes a-f, nontypeable H. influenzae and Haemophilus parainfluenzae all expressed proteins similar to the D-15-Ag, as demonstrated by immunoblot analysis. Antibodies to recombinant D-15-Ag protected against H. influenzae type b and type a bacteremia in the infant rat model (Loosmore, S. M. et al, Infect. Immun., 65:3701-3707 (1997)).

Like H. influenzae D-15-Ag, the Oma87 of P. multocida was highly conserved among strains and was recognized by protective antibody; it was present in all 16 serotypes of P. multocida and was recognized by convalescent animal sera. Antibodies raised to recombinant Oma87 were protective against homologous challenge in the mouse model (Ruffolo, C. G. et al., Infect. Immun., 64:3161-3167 (1996)). Despite the several publications describing the immunological properties of D-15-Ag and Oma87, the function of these proteins remains unknown.

There remains a need in the art for the development of proteins from Neisseriae which are useful in research, diagnosis and treatment of the infections, especially non-symptomatic infections, and the diseases caused by these pathogens.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In one aspect, the invention provides an isolated outer membrane protein of N. gonorrhoeae having an apparent molecular weight of 85 kDa and characterized by an amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 2, a fragment, an analog or a homolog thereof.

In another aspect, the invention provides a nucleic acid sequence encoding the Omp85 of N. gonorrhoeae or a fragment thereof.

In still another aspect, the invention provides a nucleic acid molecule comprising a nucleic acid sequence encoding the Omp85 of N. gonorrhoeae or a fragment thereof under the control of suitable regulatory sequences which direct expression of said Omp85 protein or fragment in a selected host cell.

In yet a further aspect, the invention provides a host cell transformed with the above described nucleic acid molecule.

In still a further aspect, the invention provides a method of recombinantly expressing the Omp85 of N. gonorrhoeae or a fragment thereof comprising the steps of culturing a recombinant host cell transformed with a nucleic acid sequence encoding said protein or fragment under conditions which permit expression of said protein or peptide.

In another aspect, the invention provides a method for preparing an Omp85 protein of N. gonorrhoeae or fragment thereof comprising chemically synthesizing said protein or fragment.

In yet another aspect, the invention provides a diagnostic reagent comprising a nucleic acid sequence encoding Omp85 of N. gonorrhoeae, isolated from cellular materials with which it is naturally associated, a sequence complementary thereto, a fragment thereof, a sequence which hybridizes thereto under stringent conditions, an allelic variant thereof, a mutant thereof, or a sequence encoding Omp85 or a fragment thereof fused to a sequence encoding a second protein, and a detectable label which is associated with said sequence.

In still another aspect, the invention provides an isolated antibody which is directed against Omp85 of N. gonorrhoeae or a fragment thereof.

In a further aspect, the invention provides an anti-idiotype antibody specific for the antibody described above.

In another aspect, the invention provides a diagnostic reagent comprising the antibody or anti-idiotype antibody described above and a detectable label.

In yet another aspect, the invention provides a vaccine composition comprising an effective amount of a Omp85 protein of N. gonorrhoeae, a fusion protein or fragment thereof and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier. This composition can also include at least one other antigen or fragment thereof.

In another aspect, the invention provides a vaccine composition comprising an effective amount of a nucleic acid sequence encoding the Omp85 protein of N. gonorrhoeae, a fusion protein, or a fragment thereof and a suitable nucleic acid delivery vehicle. This vaccine composition may also be polyvalent.

In still a further aspect, the invention provides a method of vaccinating a human or animal against gonococcal infection or disease comprising administering to said human or animal a composition comprising an effective amount of at least one of the compositions described above.

Another aspect of the present invention includes a method for diagnosing gonococcal infection or disease in a human or animal comprising the steps of contacting an Omp85 antigen optionally associated with a detectable label or a homolog thereof with a biological sample from a human subject to be diagnosed, wherein the presence of naturally occurring antibodies to N. gonorrhoeae in said sample permits the formation of an antigen-antibody complex, and analyzing said sample for the presence of said complex, which indicates infection with N. gonorrhoeae.

Still another aspect of the invention provides a method for diagnosing gonococcal infection or disease in a human or animal comprising the steps of: contacting an Omp85 antibody, optionally associated with a detectable label, with a biological sample from a human subject to be diagnosed, wherein the presence of naturally occurring N. gonorrhoeae Omp85 in said sample permits the formation of an antigen-antibody complex, and analyzing said sample for the presence of said complex, which indicates infection with N. gonorrhoeae.

Yet a further aspect of the invention provides a method for diagnosing gonococcal infection or disease in a human or animal comprising the steps of: employing a nucleic acid sequence encoding all or a portion of an Omp85 antigen or an Omp85 antibody, optionally associated with a detectable label, as a probe which, when in contact with a biological sample from a human subject to be diagnosed, enables detection of infection by hybridization or amplification of nucleic acid sequences of N. gonorrhoeae Omp85 in said sample.

Yet a further aspect of the invention includes a therapeutic composition useful in treating humans or animals with non-symptomatic gonococcal infection or symptomatic disease comprising at least one anti-N. gonorrhoeae Omp85 antibody and a suitable pharmaceutical carrier.

In still another aspect, the invention includes a method for treating non-symptomatic gonococcal infection or symptomatic disease in a mammalian host comprising administering an effective amount of the therapeutic composition described above.

In yet another aspect, the invention provides a kit for diagnosing infection with N. gonorrhoeae in a human or animal comprising an Omp85 protein or fragment thereof or an anti-Omp85 antibody or a nucleic acid sequence encoding the protein or antibody as described above.

In another aspect, the invention provides a method of identifying compounds which specifically bind to Omp85 of N. gonorrhoeae or a fragment thereof, comprising the steps of contacting said Omp85 protein or fragment with a test compound to permit binding of the test compound to Omp85; and determining the amount of test compound which is bound to Omp85.

In still another aspect, the invention provides a compound identified by the above method.

In one aspect, the invention provides an isolated outer membrane protein of N. meningitidis having an apparent molecular weight of 85kDa and characterized by an amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 4, a fragment, an analog or a homolog thereof.

In another aspect, the invention provides a nucleic acid sequence encoding the Omp85 of N. meningitidis or a fragment thereof.

In still another aspect, the invention provides a nucleic acid molecule comprising a nucleic acid sequence encoding the Omp85 of N. meningitidis or a fragment thereof under the control of suitable regulatory sequences which direct expression of said Omp 85 or fragment in a selected host cell.

In yet a further aspect, the invention provides a host cell transformed with the above described nucleic acid molecule.

In still a further aspect, the invention provides a method of recombinantly expressing the Omp85 of N. meningitidis or a fragment thereof comprising the steps of culturing a recombinant host cell transformed with a nucleic acid sequence encoding said protein or fragment under conditions which permit expression of said protein or peptide.

In another aspect, the invention provides a method for preparing an Omp85 protein of N. meningitidis or fragment thereof comprising chemically synthesizing said protein or fragment.

In yet another aspect, the invention provides a diagnostic reagent comprising a nucleic acid sequence encoding Omp85 of N. meningitidis, isolated from cellular materials with which it is naturally associated, a sequence complementary thereto, a fragment thereof, a sequence which hybridizes thereto under stringent conditions, an allelic variant thereof, a mutant thereof, or a sequence encoding Omp85 or a fragment thereof fused to a sequence encoding a second protein, and a detectable label which is associated with said sequence.

In still another aspect, the invention provides an isolated antibody which is directed against Omp85 of N. meningitidis or a fragment thereof.

In a further aspect, the invention provides an anti-idiotype antibody specific for the antibody described above.

In another aspect, the invention provides a diagnostic reagent comprising the antibody or anti-idiotype antibody described above and a detectable label.

In yet another aspect, the invention provides a vaccine composition comprising an effective amount of a Omp85 protein of N. meningitidis, a fusion protein or fragment thereof and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier. This composition can also include at least one other antigen or fragment thereof.

In another aspect, the invention provides a vaccine composition comprising an effective amount of a nucleic acid sequence encoding the Omp85 protein of N. meningitidis, a fusion protein, or a fragment thereof and a suitable nucleic acid delivery vehicle. This vaccine composition may also be polyvalent.

In still a further aspect, the invention provides a method of vaccinating a human or animal against non-symptomatic meningococcal infection and symptomatic disease comprising administering to said human or animal a composition comprising an effective amount of at least one of the compositions described above in either a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier or a nucleic acid delivery system.

Another aspect of the present invention includes a method for diagnosing non-symptomatic gonococcal infection or symptomatic disease in a human or animal comprising the steps of contacting an Omp85 antigen optionally associated with a detectable label or a homolog thereof with a biological sample from a human subject to be diagnosed, wherein the presence of naturally occurring antibodies to N. meningitidis in said sample permits the formation of an antigen-antibody complex, and analyzing said sample for the presence of said complex, which indicates infection with N. meningitidis.

Still another aspect of the invention provides a method for diagnosing non-symptomatic meningococcal infection and symptomatic disease in a human or animal comprising the steps of: contacting an Omp85 antibody, optionally associated with a detectable label, with a biological sample from a human subject to be diagnosed, wherein the presence of naturally occurring N. meningitidis Omp85 in said sample permits the formation of an antigen-antibody complex, and analyzing said sample for the presence of said complex, which indicates infection with N. meningitidis.

Yet a further aspect of the invention provides a method for diagnosing non-symptomatic meningococcal infection and symptomatic disease in a human or animal comprising the steps of: employing a nucleic acid sequence encoding all or a portion of an Omp85 antigen or an Omp85 antibody, optionally associated with a detectable label, as a probe which, when in contact with a biological sample from a human subject to be diagnosed, enables detection of infection by hybridization or amplification of nucleic acid sequences of N. meningitidis Omp85 in said sample.

Yet a further aspect of the invention includes a therapeutic composition useful in treating humans or animals with non-symptomatic meningococcal infection and symptomatic disease comprising at least one anti-N. meningitidis Omp85 antibody and a suitable pharmaceutical carrier.

In still another aspect, the invention includes a method for treating non-symptomatic meningococcal infection and symptomatic disease in a mammalian host comprising administering an effective amount of the therapeutic composition described above.

In yet another aspect, the invention provides a kit for diagnosing infection with N. meningitidis in a human or animal comprising an Omp85 protein or fragment thereof or an anti-Omp85 antibody or a nucleic acid sequence encoding the Omp85 protein or antibody, as described above.

In another aspect, the invention provides a method of identifying compounds which specifically bind to Omp85 of N. meningitidis or a fragment thereof, comprising the steps of contacting said Omp85 protein or fragment with a test compound to permit binding of the test compound to Omp85; and determining the amount of test compound which is bound to Omp85.

In still another aspect, the invention provides a compound identified by the above method.

Other aspects and advantages of the present invention are described further in the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments thereof, reference being made to the accompanying figures.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a photograph of a sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide electrophoretic gel (SDS-PAGE) illustrating the identification of recombinant Omp85 produced by E. coli DH5α/pOmp85, as described in Example 2. Bacterial cell lysates were separated by SDS-PAGE, stained with Coomassie Brilliant blue (CBB) or transferred to membranes and probed with anti-GC-OM serum. From left to right are E. coli DH5α, E. coli DH5α/pOmp85, and N. gonorrhoeae strain FA19. The location of Omp85 is indicated. Prestained molecular mass markers (MW), were indicated in kilodaltons (kDa).

FIGS. 2A-2C illustrate the DNA sequence encoding an open reading frame of the N. gonorrhoeae omp85 (SEQ ID NO: 1) and the corresponding deduced amino acid sequence of Omp85 (Genbank accession #U81959) (SEQ ID NO: 2), which is preceded by an untranslated 5′ sequence (SEQ ID NO: 7), and followed by an untranslated 3′ sequence (SEQ ID NO: 8). The nucleotide sequence begins with the termination codon of a preceding open reading frame (ORF) that is similar to that of the H. influenzae hypothetical protein H10918 and ends with the initiation codon of a downstream gene similar to ompH of S. typhimurium (Kosk P. et al, J. Biol. Chem., 264: 18973-18980 (1989)). The nucleotides of the omp85 open reading frame are numbered on the left. A ribosome binding site (underlined) precedes the initiation codon of the omp85 ORF. The omp85 ORF was preceded and followed by rho-independent transcriptional termination sequences (indicated by lines with arrows). The Omp85 precursor polypeptide-was composed of 792 amino acids. The amino acid sequence is numbered on the right. A putative signal peptide cleavage site was identified (indicated by arrowhead) (Von Heijne, G., Nucl. Acids Res., 14:4683-4690 (1986)). Cleavage at this site would produce a mature protein having a predicted molecular weight of 85,842 Da.

FIG. 3 is a photograph of a Western blot that illustrates the identification of Omp85 in N. gonorrhoeae strains FA19, FA635, FA1090, JS1, F62 and MS11LosA and N. meningitidis strains MP78, MP3, MP81 and HH by Western blot analysis with anti-GC-OM serum. E. coli DH5α and E. coli DH5α/pOmp85 were used as negative and positive controls. Prestained molecular mass markers (MW) were indicated in kDa.

FIG. 4 is a photograph of a Southern blot that illustrates the identification of omp85 in genomic DNA from N. gonorrhoeae FA19 and N. meningitidis strains MP3, MP73, MP81 and HH digested with restriction endonucleases (HincII, EcoRI, PstI, ClaI) and probed with a 688 bp fragment of gonococcal omp85. This fragment was used as a positive control in the first lane. Molecular weight markers are indicated on the left in kilobase pairs. E. coli DH5α was used as a negative control.

FIG. 5 illustrates the amino acid sequence of N. meningitidis Omp85 (Genbank accession #AF021045) (SEQ ID NO: 4) compared to that of N. gonorrhoeae Omp85 (SEQ ID NO: 2). On the top line is the N. meningitidis Omp85 amino acid sequence. Below it are the amino acids that are different in the N. gonorrhoeae Omp85. Amino acids that are absent in the gonococcal Omp85 are indicated by stars. Amino acids that are identical in the Omp85 homologs of N. meningitidis, N. gonorrhoeae, H. influenzae (D-15-Ag) and P. multocida (Oma87) are underlined. The amino acids of the meningococcal Omp85 are numbered on the right.

FIG. 6 is a photograph of a Western blot that illustrates the identification of Omp85 in N. gonorrhoeae strains FA19, FA635, FA1090, JS1, F62 and MS11LosA and N. meningitidis strains MP78, MP3, MP81 and HH by Western blot analysis with anti-Omp85, as described in Example 7. E. coli DH5α, E. coli DH5α/pOmp85 and E. coli DH5α/pMCOmp85 were used as negative and positive controls. Prestained molecular mass markers (MW) were indicated in kDa.

FIG. 7A is a photograph of a Western blot that illustrates the distribution of Omp85 in pathogenic and commensal Neisseriae (relationship areas A, B, C, and D) and related Gram negative bacteria: N. gonorrhoeae FA19 (A), Neisseria pharyngis (A), Neisseria cinerea (A), Neisseria lactamica (B), Neisseria mucosae (B), Neisseria flavescens (C), Neisseria animalis (C), Neisseria denitrificans (C), Moraxella catarrhalis (D), Klebsiella pneumoniae, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and N. meningitidis HH (A), as described in Example 7. E. coli DH5α and E. coli DH5α/pOmp85, were used as negative and positive controls. Prestained molecular mass markers (MW) were indicated in kDa.

FIG. 7B is a photograph of a Western blot that illustrates the distribution of Omp85 in N. gonorrhoeae FA19, Salmonella typhimurium, Shigella flexneri, E. coli strains 35150 (enterohemorrhagic—EHEC), 35401 (enterotoxigenic—ETEC), 43887 (enteropathogenic—EPEC), 43892 (enteroinvasive—EIEC) and N. meningitidis, as described in Example 7. E. coli DH5α and E. coli DH5α/pOmp85 were used as negative and positive controls. Prestained molecular mass markers (MW) were indicated in kDa.

FIG. 8 is a bar graph showing the results of a gonococcal cell adherence assay performed with no antibody (black bars), and with Fab fragments prepared from antisera to: MS11Omp85, MS11 hyperimmune sera to bovine serum albumin (MS11BSA), MS11hyperimmune serum to normal rabbit serum (MS11NRS), FA19 Omp85, FA19BSA and FA19NRS at concentrations of 1, 10 and 100 μg/ml (see key). The assay was performed as described in Example 8.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides novel, characterized, outer surface membrane proteins, referred to as Omp85, from N. gonorrhoeae and N. meningitidis. These novel antigens, fragments thereof, antibodies developed thereto, the nucleic acid sequences encoding same, and the use of such antigens, antibodies and nucleic acid sequences provide diagnostic, therapeutic and prophylactic compositions and methods for the treatment or prevention of gonococcal and meningococcal infections, particularly non-symptomatic infections, and diseases.

I. The Omp85 Antigens of the Invention

To identify the previously uncharacterized N. gonorrhoeae outer membrane proteins, an N. gonorrhoeae genomic library was screened with an antiserum raised against purified isolated gonococcal outer membranes. The gonococcal gene, omp85, was identified that encodes a 792 amino acid outer membrane protein, Omp85, of N. gonorrhoeae having an apparent molecular weight of 85kDa and characterized by the amino acid sequence of FIGS. 2A-2C and SEQ ID NO: 2. Omp85 has a typical signal peptide and a carboxyl-terminal phenylalanine characteristic of outer membrane proteins. Southern analysis demonstrated that the omp85 gene was present as a single copy in N. gonorrhoeae and N. meningitidis. PCR amplification was used to obtain a clone of the N. meningitidis omp85 homolog. The genes encoding the N. gonorrhoeae and N. meningitidis Omp85 proteins have been cloned and sequenced. The omp85 gene and its product in both N. gonorrhoeae and N. meningitidis are characterized in FIGS. 2 and 5 below (SEQ ID NOS: 1-4).

The nucleic acid sequences encoding the Omp85 proteins and the structures of the proteins themselves are described below. Where in this specification, protein and/or DNA sequences are defined by their percent homologies or identities to identified sequences, the algorithms used to calculate the percent identities or percent similarities include the following: the Smith-Waterman algorithm (J. F. Collins et al, 1988, Comput. Appl. Biosci., 4:67-72; J. F. Collins et al, Molecular Sequence Comparison and Alignment, (M. J. Bishop et al, eds.) In Practical Approach Series: Nucleic Acid and Protein Sequence Analysis XVIII, IRL Press: Oxford, England, UK (1987) pp.417). and the BLAST and FASTA programs (E. G. Shpaer et al, Genomics, 38:179-191 (1996)), including the BLAST2 program (S. D. Altschul et al, J. Mol. Biol., 215:403-407 (1990)). These references are incorporated herein by reference.

A. Nucleic Acid Sequences

The present invention provides bacterial nucleic acid sequences encoding omp85 sequences of N. gonorrhoeae and N. meningitidis. The nucleic acid sequences of this invention are isolated from cellular materials with which they are naturally associated. The DNA sequence of the N. gonorrhoeae omp85 (SEQ ID NO: 1) and the corresponding deduced amino acid sequence of Omp85 (Genbank accession #U81959) (SEQ ID NO: 2) were obtained as described in Example 2 and in FIGS. 2A-2C. The nucleotide sequence begins with the termination codon of a preceding ORF that is similar to that of the H. influenzae hypothetical protein H10918 and ends with the initiation codon of a downstream gene similar to ompH of S. typhimurium [(Kosk P. et al, J. Biol. Chem., 264: 18973-18980 (1989)]). A ribosome binding site precedes the initiation codon of the omp85 ORF. The omp85 ORF was preceded and followed by rho-independent transcriptional termination sequences. The Omp85 precursor polypeptide was composed of 792 amino acids. A putative signal peptide cleavage site was identified (indicated by arrowhead) (Von Heijne, G., Nucl. Acids Res., 14:4683-4690 (1986)). Cleavage at this site produces a mature protein having a predicted molecular weight of 85,842 Da.

The DNA sequence of the N. meningitidis omp85 (SEQ ID NO: 3) and the corresponding deduced amino acid sequence of Omp85 (Genbank accession #AF021045) (SEQ ID NO: 4) were obtained as described in Example 3. FIG. 5 shows the comparison between the sequences of the two Omp85 proteins, as well as the similarities between the Omp85 homologs of N. meningitidis, N. gonorrhoeae, H. influenzae (D-15-Ag) and P. multocida (Oma87).

In addition to the full-length nucleic acid sequences encoding the Omp85 proteins provided herein, the specification also includes fragments of these omp85 genes. Preferably, such fragments are characterized by encoding a biologically active portion of Omp85, e.g., an epitope. Alternatively, other non-epitopic fragments may be useful as probes in diagnostic or research use. Generally, these oligonucleotide fragments are at least 10, or at least 15 consecutive nucleotides in length. However, oligonucleotide fragments of varying sizes may be selected as desired. Such fragments may be used for such purposes as performing polymerase chain reaction (PCR), e.g., on a biopsied tissue sample. For example, useful fragments of omp85 DNA and corresponding sequences comprise sequences occurring between nucleotides 2161 through 2208 of SEQ ID NO: 1 and nucleotides 2161 and 2218 of SEQ ID NO: 3. Other useful fragments may be readily obtained by one of skill in the art by resort to conventional DNA sequencing techniques applied to the sequences disclosed herein.

The DNA sequences of SEQ ID NOS: 1 and 3 permit one of skill in the art to readily obtain the corresponding anti-sense strands of these DNA sequences. Further, using known techniques, one of skill in the art can readily obtain additional genomic and cDNA sequences which flank the illustrated DNA sequences or the corresponding RNA sequences, as desired. Similarly the availability of SEQ ID NOS: 1 and 3 of this invention permits one of skill in the art to obtain other species Omp85 analogs, and fragments thereof, by use of the nucleic acid sequences of this invention as probes in a conventional technique, e.g., polymerase chain reaction. Allelic variants of these sequences within a species (i.e., sequences containing some individual nucleotide differences from a more commonly occurring sequence within a species, but which nevertheless encode the same protein or a protein with the same function) such as other variants of Omp85 (SEQ ID NOS: 2 and 4) may also be readily obtained given the knowledge of these nucleic acid sequences provided by this invention.

The present invention further encompasses nucleic acid sequences capable of hybridizing under stringent conditions (see, J. Sambrook et al, Molecular Cloning: A Laboratory Manual, 2d ed., Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory (1989)) to the sequences of SEQ ID NOS: 1 and 3, their anti-sense strands, or biologically active fragments thereof. An example of a highly stringent hybridization condition is hybridization at 2×SSC at 65° C., followed by a washing in 0.1×SSC at 65° C. for an hour. Alternatively, an exemplary highly stringent hybridization condition is in 50% formamide, 4×SSC at 42° C. Moderately high stringency conditions may also prove useful, e.g., hybridization in 4×SSC at 55° C., followed by washing in 0.1×SSC at 37° C. for an hour. An alternative exemplary moderately high stringency hybridization condition is in 50% formamide, 4×SSC at 30° C.

According to the invention, the nucleic acid sequences may be modified. Utilizing the sequence data of SEQ ID NOS: 1 and 3, it is within the skill of the art to obtain other synthetically or recombinantly-prepared polynucleotide sequences, or modified polynucleotide sequences, encoding the full-length proteins or useful fragments of the invention. For example, one of skill may employ preferred or “preference” codons for expression of the sequence in selected host cells; thus SEQ ID NOS: 1 and 3 may be modified to contain different nucleotide triplets which encode the same amino acid as encoded by SEQ ID NOS: 1 and 3. Such modifications made at the nucleic acid level include, for example, modifications to the nucleotide sequences which are silent or which change the amino acids, e.g. to improve expression or secretion of the protein. Also included are allelic variations, caused by the natural degeneracy of the genetic code.

Also encompassed by the present invention are mutants of the omp85 sequences, including 5′, 3′ or internal deletions, which encode proteins that substantially retain the antigenicity of the full-length Omp85 or other proteins or fragments. Such truncated, or deletion, mutants may be expressed by modified nucleic acid sequences for the purpose of affecting the activity of the full-length or wild-type protein.

As described in more detail below, these nucleic acid sequences are useful for a variety of diagnostic, prophylactic and therapeutic uses. Advantageously, the nucleic acid sequences are useful in the development of diagnostic probes and antisense probes for use in the detection and diagnosis of infections, particularly non-symptomatic infection, and diseases caused by these Neisseriae pathogens and by related pathogens discussed above by utilizing a variety of known nucleic acid assays, e.g., Northern and Southern blots, polymerase chain reaction (PCR), and other assay techniques known to one of skill in the art. The nucleic acid sequences of this invention are also useful in the production of Omp85 proteins and homologs as well as a variety of fusion or other synthetic proteins

The nucleotide sequences of the invention may be readily synthesized or may be isolated by conventional uses of polymerase chain reaction or cloning techniques such as those described herein and in conventional texts such as Sambrook et al, cited above. For example, the nucleic acid sequences of the antigen of this invention may be prepared or isolated from genomic libraries using DNA primers and probes and PCR techniques. These sequences, fragments thereof, modifications thereto and the full-length sequences may be constructed recombinantly using conventional genetic engineering or chemical synthesis techniques or PCR, and the like by utilizing the information provided herein. Further, such nucleic acid sequences may be conventionally labeled for diagnostic use. Alternatively for use as therapeutic or vaccine components, the nucleic acid sequences of this invention may be admixed with a variety of pharmaceutically acceptable carriers, e.g., saline, liposomes, etc. or incorporated into nucleic acid molecules, e.g., plasmids under the regulatory control of sequences which direct expression of the encoded protein in a selected host cell. The nucleic acid sequences may also be delivered to a host as “naked” DNA or in a gene delivery vehicle, such as a recombinant virus, all as described in detail below.

B. Protein Sequences

The present invention also provides Omp85 proteins and peptides of this invention. These proteins are free from association with other contaminating proteins or materials with which they are found in nature. The Neisseriae Omp85 antigen has a relative molecular mass of 85kDa as measured by Western immunoblot (See Example 2 and FIGS. 2A-2C). In one embodiment, the invention provides a gonococcal Omp85 antigen (SEQ ID NO:2) polypeptide of about 792 amino acids, with a signal peptide, having a predicted molecular weight of 85,842 daltons.

The meningococcal omp85 was found to encode a 797 amino acid polypeptide with a predicted molecular weight of 88.5 kDa (FIG. 5). Between amino acid residues 720 and 745, the menigococcal Omp85 varied substantially from gonococcal Omp85, including the insertion of five additional amino acids. The deduced amino acid sequence (SEQ ID NO: 4) of N. meningitidis Omp85 was revealed by sequence analysis to be 95% identical to N. gonorrhoeae Omp85 and 98% similar to gonococcal Omp85 using the BLAST2 algorithm.

The similarities of these two Omp85 proteins to proteins of other microorganisms provide evidence of an immunological role played by these proteins, as well as other potential roles. The D-15 protective surface antigen (D-15-Ag) of Haemophilus influenzae and the Oma87 of Pasteurella multocida are the only bacterial proteins, which have been previously described, that are similar to the Omp85 amino acid sequence (SEQ ID NO: 2). This similarity suggested that these proteins played an important role in host-pathogen interactions and have an important function in pathogenesis. The importance of these Omp85 proteins in pathogenesis and immunobiology was demonstrated by the fact that antibody to similar proteins in H. influenzae and P. multocida were protective. The similarities suggest that the Neisseriae Omp85 proteins are likely important immunological targets of the host immune response.

Western blot analysis demonstrated proteins similar to Omp85 in all of the Neisseriae tested with anti-Omp85 in three Neisseriae relationship areas. Area A contains the frank pathogens N. gonorrhoeae and N. meningitidis and opportunistic organisms known to cause severe human diseases such as N. pharyngis and N. cinerea. Area B contains species, such as N. mucosae and N. lactamica, typically found in the human nasopharynx which are able to cause opportunistic infections in debilitated hosts. Area C consists of commensal/saprophytic organisms, such as N. flavescens, N. animalis and N. denitricans, which generally do not cause human infections.

All Neisseriae species colonize mucosal surfaces. The presence of Omp85-like proteins in numerous pathogenic and commensal organisms suggests it may be involved in establishing or maintaining colonization. The identification of Omp85 proteins in a number of pathogenic and commensal organisms provides evidence that the Omp85 proteins provide functions involved in establishing or maintaining colonization.

Database searches identified genes in a number of pathogens which encode hypothetical proteins similar to Omp85, including genes in B. abortus, H. pylori, and B. burgdorferi. The proteins encoded by these genes have not yet been characterized. A search of the Omp85 amino acid sequence against the GenBank data base resulted in the identification of a cyanobacterium protein (Kaneto T. et al, DNA Res., 3: 109-136 (1996)) with 35% similarity to the gonococcal Omp85. The cyanobacterium protein was named IAP75 because of its similarity to the 75 kDa chloroplast import associated protein, IAP75 (Schnell D J et al, Science, 266: 1007-1011 (1994)). The chloroplast IAP75 was located in the outer membrane of chloroplasts and was one of four outer membrane components of a complex that transports polypeptides. This suggested that Omp85 might be part of a similar transport complex.

The sequences of other proteins from the chloroplast import associated complex were searched against the Gonococcal Genome Sequencing Project Data Base (Dyer and Rowe, 1997). Sequences similar to the chloroplast IAP34 protein (Kessler F. et al, Science, 266: 1035-1039 (1994)) were identified in the gonococcal genome. IAP34 is believed to be a GTP-binding protein and the sequences of highest similarity to the gonococcal homolog were in regions identified as GTP-binding protein motifs. Surface-crosslinkage studies were performed to determine if Omp85 might participate in a system analogous to the IAP complex (data not shown). Studies using the reversible crosslinker DTBP, which crosslinks proteins that are within 11.9A of each other (Newhall W J. et al, Infect. Immun., 28: 785-791 (1980)), showed that Omp85 crosslinked with up to five other outer membrane proteins, one of ˜34 kDa (IAP34 homolog) (data not shown). These data, which confirmed Omp85 was exposed on the bacterial surface, support the role for Omp85 of participating in a complex analogous to that of the chloroplast IAP complex. Further characterization of proteins associated with Omp85 in the outer membrane may provide evidence of additional biological functions ofthese Omp85 proteins.

One of skill in the art using conventional techniques, such as PCR, may readily use the Omp85 sequences provided herein to identify and isolate other similar proteins. Such methods are routine and not considered to require undue experimentation, given the information provided herein.

Antigens of this invention may be characterized by immunological measurements including, without limitation, Western blot, macromolecular mass determinations by biophysical determinations, such as SDS-PAGE/staining, high pressure liquid chromatography (HPLC) and the like, antibody recognition assays, T-cell recognition assays, major histocompatibility complex (MHC) binding assays, and assays to infer immune protection or immune pathology by adoptive transfer of cells, proteins or antibodies.

The Omp85 outer membrane antigens of this invention (as well as its naturally occurring variants or analogs in other species) may be isolated in the form of a complete intact protein, or a polypeptide or fragment thereof. In one embodiment, Omp85 is isolated by immunoblot procedures according to its respective molecular mass, as described below in the examples. Such isolation provides the antigen in a form substantially free from other proteinaceous and non-proteinaceous materials of the microorganism. The molecules comprising the polypeptides and antigens of this invention may be isolated and further purified using any of a variety of conventional methods including, but not limited to: liquid chromatography such as normal or reverse phase, using HPLC, FPLC and the like; affinity chromatography (such as with inorganic ligands or monoclonal antibodies); size exclusion chromatography; immobilized metal chelate chromatography; gel electrophoresis; and the like. One of skill in the art may select the most appropriate isolation and purification techniques without departing from the scope of this invention.

Alternatively, the amino acid sequences of the proteins of this invention may be produced recombinantly following conventional genetic engineering techniques (see e.g., Sambrook et al, cited above and the detailed description of making the proteins below).

i. Analogs/Modified Antigens

Also included in the invention are analogs, or modified versions, of the Omp85 protein or fragments provided herein. Typically, such analogs differ from the specifically identified proteins by only one to four codon changes. Examples include polypeptides with minor amino acid variations from the illustrated partial amino acid sequence of, for example, the gonococcal Omp85 (SEQ ID NO: 2), in particular, conservative amino acid replacements. Conservative replacements are those that take place within a family of amino acids that are related in their side chains and chemical properties. Also provided are homologs of the proteins of the invention which are characterized by having at least 80% identity with SEQ ID NO:2 or SEQ ID NO: 4. Also included in this invention are homologs having at least 85% identity with SEQ ID NO: 2 or SEQ ID NO: 4. Homologs having at least 90% identity with either SEQ ID NO: 2 or SEQ ID NO: 4 are also encompassed by this invention. Homologs having at least 95% identity with either SEQ ID NO: 2 or SEQ ID NO: 4 are also encompassed by this invention. Also provided are homologs of the proteins of the invention which are characterized by having at least 85% homology with SEQ ID NO:2 or SEQ ID NO: 4. Also included in this invention are homologs having at least 90% homology with SEQ ID NO: 2 or SEQ ID NO: 4. Homologs having at least 95% homology with either SEQ ID NO: 2 or SEQ ID NO: 4 are also encompassed by this invention. Homologs having at least 99% homology with either SEQ ID NO. 2 or SEQ ID NO: 4 are also encompassed by this invention. The algorithms used for these calculations are identified above. Based on the sequence information provided herein, one of skill in the art can readily obtain full-length homologs and analogs from other bacterial species.

An antigen of the present invention may also be modified to increase its immunogenicity. For example, the antigen may be coupled to chemical compounds or immunogenic carriers, provided that the coupling does not interfere with the desired biological activity of either the antigen or the carrier. For a review of some general considerations in coupling strategies, see Antibodies, A Laboratory Manual, Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, ed. E. Harlow and D. Lane (1988). Useful immunogenic carriers known in the art, include, without limitation, keyhole limpet hemocyanin (KLH); bovine serum albumin (BSA), ovalbumin, purified protein derivative of tuberculin (PPD); red blood cells; tetanus toxoid; cholera toxoid; agarose beads; activated carbon; or bentonite. Useful chemical compounds for coupling include, without limitation, dinitrophenol groups and arsonilic acid. One of skill in the art may readily select other appropriate immunogenic carriers or coupling agents.

The antigen may also be modified by other techniques, such as denaturation with heat and/or SDS.

ii. Fragments/Deletion Mutants

Further encompassed by this invention are additional fragments of the Omp85 polypeptides and peptides identified herein. Such fragments are desirably characterized by having a biological activity similar to that displayed by the complete protein, including, e.g., the ability to induce antibodies which can interfere with the binding of the pathogen to its cellular targets (see Example 8). These fragments may be designed or obtained in any desired length, including as small as about 5-8 amino acids in length up to fragments encompassing just short of the entire protein. Such fragments may represent consecutive amino acids in the protein sequence or they may represent conformational sites of the protein. Such a fragment may represent an epitope or conformational epitope of the protein.

The Omp85 proteins (SEQ ID NOS:2 and 4) of the invention may be modified to create deletion mutants, for example, by truncation at the amino or carboxy termin, or by elimination of one or more amino acids. Deletion mutants are also encompassed by this invention, as are the DNA sequences encoding them.

In yet another embodiment, the Omp85 peptides or polypeptides of this invention may be in the form of a multiple antigenic peptide (“MAP”, also referred to as an octameric lysine core peptide) construct. Such a construct may be designed employing the MAP system described by Tam, Proc. Natl. Acad Sci. USA, 85:5409-5413 (1988). This system makes use of a core matrix of lysine residues onto which multiple copies of the same protein or peptide of the invention are synthesized as described (D. Posnett et al., J. Biol. Chem., 263(4): 1719-1725 (1988); J. Tam, “Chemically Defined Synthetic Immunogens and Vaccines by the Multiple Antigen Peptide Approach”, Vaccine Research and Developments, Vol. 1, ed. W. Koff and H. Six, pp. 51-87 (Marcel Deblau, Inc., New York 1992)). Each MAP contains multiple copies of only one peptide.

Still other modified fragments of Omp85 may be prepared by any number of now conventional techniques to improve production thereof, to enhance protein stability or other characteristics, e.g. binding activity or bioavailability, or to confer some other desired property upon the protein. Other useful fragments of these polypeptides may be readily prepared by one of skill in the art using known techniques, such as deletion mutagenesis and expression.

iii. Fusion or Multimeric Proteins and Compositions

The Omp85 protein of the present invention, or fragments of it, may also be constructed, using conventional genetic engineering techniques as part of a larger and/or multimeric protein or protein compositions. Antigens of this invention may be in combination with outer surface proteins or other proteins or antigens of other pathogens, such as those identified above, or various fragments of the antigens described herein may be in combination with each other. In such combination, the antigen may be in the form of a fusion protein. The antigen of the invention may be optionally fused to a selected polypeptide or protein derived from other microorganisms. For example, an antigen or polypeptide of this invention may be fused at its N-terminus or C-terminus to a polypeptide from another pathogen or to more than one polypeptide in sequence. Polypeptides which may be useful for this purpose include polypeptides identified by the prior art.

Still another fusion protein of this invention is provided by expressing the DNA molecule formed by the omp85 DNA sequence or a fragment thereof fused to DNA fragments that are homologous (between about 25-95% identity) to Omp85. One example of such a protein comprises the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 2 to which is fused amino acid fragments that are up to 95% identical to that sequence, e.g., from SEQ ID NO: 4, or from any of the above-described homologous proteins. These fragments may be inserted in any order and may contain repeated sequences. The fused fragments may produce a large DNA molecule which expresses a protein which may stimulate a variety of antibody specificities.

These fusion proteins comprising multiple polypeptides of this invention are constructed for use in the methods and compositions of this invention. These fusion proteins or multimeric proteins may be produced recombinantly, or may be synthesized chemically. They also may include the polypeptides of this invention fused or coupled to moieties other than amino acids, including lipids and carbohydrates. Further, antigens of this invention may be employed in combination with other vaccinal agents described by the prior art, as well as with other species of vaccinal agents derived from other microorganisms. Such proteins are useful in the prevention, treatment and diagnosis of diseases caused by a wide spectrum of Neisseriae isolates.

A protein composition which may be a preferred alternative to the fusion proteins described above is a cocktail (i.e., a simple mixture) containing different Omp85 proteins or fragments, optionally mixed with different antigenic proteins or peptides of other pathogens. Such mixtures of these proteins or antigenic fragments thereof are likely to be useful in the generation of desired antibodies to a wide spectrum of Neisseriae isolates.

iv. Salts

An antigen of the present invention may also be used in the form of a pharmaceutically acceptable salt. Suitable acids and bases which are capable of forming salts with the polypeptides of the present invention are well known to those of skill in the art, and include inorganic and organic acids and bases.

III. Methods of Making Antigens and Nucleic Acid Sequences of the Invention

A. Expression In Vitro

To produce recombinant Omp85 or peptide fragments of this invention, the DNA sequences of the invention are inserted into a suitable expression system. Desirably, a recombinant molecule or vector is constructed in which the polynucleotide sequence encoding the selected protein, e.g., Omp85, is operably linked to a heterologous expression control sequence permitting expression of the protein. Numerous types of appropriate expression vectors are known in the art for protein expression, by standard molecular biology techniques. Such vectors are selected from among conventional vector types including insects, e.g., baculovirus expression, or yeast, fungal, bacterial or viral expression systems. Other appropriate expression vectors, of which numerous types are known in the art, can also be used for this purpose. Methods for obtaining such expression vectors are well-known. See, Sambrook et al, Molecular Cloning. A Laboratory Manual, 2d edition, Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, New York (1989); Miller et al, Genetic Engineering, 8:277-298 (Plenum Press 1986) and references cited therein.

Suitable host cells or cell lines for transfection by this method include bacterial cells. For example, the various strains of E. coli, e.g., HB101, MC1061, and strains used in the following examples, are well-known as host cells in the field of biotechnology. Various strains of B. subtilis, Pseudomonas, Streptomyces, and other bacilli and the like are also employed in this method.

Mammalian cells, such as human 293 cells, Chinese hamster ovary cells (CHO), the monkey COS-1 cell line or murine 3T3 cells derived from Swiss, Balb-c or NIH mice are used. Another suitable mammalian cell line is the CV-1 cell line. Still other suitable mammalian host cells, as well as methods for transfection, culture, amplification, screening, production, and purification are known in the art. (See, e.g., Gething and Sambrook, Nature, 293:620-625 (1981), or alternatively, Kaufman et al, Mol. Cell. Biol., 5(7):1750-1759 (1985) or Howley et al, U.S. Pat. No. 4,419,446). Many strains of yeast cells known to those skilled in the art are also available as host cells for expression of the polypeptides of the present invention. Other fungal cells may also be employed as expression systems. Alternatively, insect cells such as Spodoptera frugipedera (Sf9) cells may be used.

Thus, the present invention provides a method for producing recombinant Omp85 proteins, which involves transfecting, e.g., by conventional means such as electroporation, a host cell with at least one expression vector containing a polynucleotide of the invention under the control of a transcriptional regulatory sequence. The transfected or transformed host cell is then cultured under conditions that allow expression of the protein. The expressed protein is recovered, isolated, and optionally purified from the cell (or from the culture medium, if expressed extracellularly) by appropriate means known to one of skill in the art.

For example, the proteins are isolated in soluble form following cell lysis, or extracted using known techniques, e.g., in guanidine chloride. If desired, the proteins or fragments of the invention are produced as a fusion protein. Such fusion proteins are those described above. Alternatively, for example, it may be desirable to produce fusion proteins to enhance expression of the protein in a selected host cell, to improve purification, or for use in monitoring the presence of the desired protein, e.g., Omp85, in tissues, cells or cell extracts. Suitable fusion partners for the proteins of the invention are well known to those of skill in the art and include, among others, β-galactosidase, glutathione-S-transferase, poly-histidine and maltose binding protein.

B. Expression In Vivo

Alternatively, where it is desired that the Omp85 (whether full-length or a fragment) be expressed in vivo, e.g., to induce antibodies, or alternatively where the omp85 is to be employed as a DNA vaccine, an appropriate vector for delivery is readily selected by one of skill in the art. Exemplary vectors for in vivo gene delivery are readily available from a variety of academic and commercial sources, and include, e.g., adeno-associated virus (International patent application No. PCT/US91/03440), adenovirus vectors (M. Kay et al, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA, 91:2353 (1994); S. Ishibashi et al, J. Clin. Invest., 92:883 (1993)), or other viral vectors, e.g., various poxviruses, vaccinia, etc. Methods for insertion of a desired gene, e.g., Omp85, and obtaining in vivo expression of the encoded protein, are well known to those of skill in the art.

IV. Antibodies of the Invention

The present invention also provides antibodies capable of recognizing and binding the isolated, or modified, or multimeric antigens of this invention, including antibodies derived from mixtures of such antigens or fragments thereof. Certain of the antibodies of this invention may be specific to the K. gonorrhoeae or N. meningitidis Omp85 proteins, by binding to epitopes on the proteins which differ from the former species to the latter species. For example, an antibody specific for N. gonorrhoeae may bind an epitope on SEQ ID NO: 2 which is not present in SEQ ID NO: 4, or vice versa. Thus, an N. gonorrhoeae Omp85-specific antibody is defined herein as an antibody that binds an Omp85 antigen of N. gonorrhoeae only. An N. meningitidis Omp85-specific antibody is defined herein as an antibody that binds an Omp85 antigen of N. meningitidis only. Alternatively, certain antibodies to these proteins may bind an epitope present on both the N. gonorrhoeae and N. meningitidis Omp85 proteins. Still other antibodies of this invention may bind an epitope on N. gonorrhoeae and N. meningitidis Omp85, and the same epitope on the other homologous proteins in homologous or heterologous species of bacteria having homologous proteins (described in Part I, B above). All of these antibodies are encompassed by this invention.

These antibodies are useful in diagnosis of gonococcal and meningococcal infection (non-symptomatic) as well as symptomatic diseases, caused by N. gonorrhoeae, N. meningitidis or other Neisseriae species, and in therapeutic compositions for treating humans and/or animals that test positive for infection, or, prior to testing, exhibit symptoms of such diseases. The antibodies are useful in diagnosis alone or in combination with antibodies to other antigens of this invention, as well as antibodies to other known antigens from homologous or completely heterologous species of microorganism. These antibodies are also useful in passive vaccine compositions, which vaccines may also be polyvalent, by containing antibodies to antigens of other microorganisms as well as antibodies to the Omp85 proteins of this invention.

The antibodies of this invention are generated by conventional means utilizing the isolated, recombinant or modified antigens of this invention, or mixtures of such antigens or antigenic fragments. For example, polyclonal antibodies are generated by conventionally stimulating the immune system of a selected animal or human with the isolated antigen or mixture of antigenic proteins or peptides of this invention, allowing the immune system to produce natural antibodies thereto, and collecting these antibodies from the animal or human's blood or other biological fluid.

For example, an antibody according to the invention is produced by administering to a vertebrate host the antigen or antigenic composition of this invention, e.g., Omp85. Preferably a recombinant version of Omp85 (rOmp85) or an Omp85 MAP is used as an immunogen. A suitable polyclonal antibody against the Omp85 antigen may be generated as antisera, such as the Omp85 antisera employed in the examples herein.

Thus, an antibody of the invention is isolated by affinity purifying antiserum generated during an infection of a mammal, e.g., a mouse, with N. gonorrhoeae or N. meningitidis, using as immunoabsorbant the Omp85 antigen identified herein. Similarly, an antibody of the invention is isolated by immunizing mice with a purified, recombinant antigen of this invention, or a purified, isolated Omp85 protein of native origin.

Monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) directed against Omp85 are also generated. Hybridoma cell lines expressing desirable MAbs are generated by well-known conventional techniques, e.g. Kohler and Milstein and the many known modifications thereof. Similarly desirable high titer antibodies are generated by applying known recombinant techniques to the monoclonal or polyclonal antibodies developed to these antigens (see, e.g., PCT Patent Application No. PCT/GB85/00392; British Patent Application Publication No. GB2188638A; Amit et al., Science, 233:747-753 (1986); Queen et al., Proc. Nat'l. Acad. Sci. USA, 86:10029-10033 (1989); PCT Patent Application No. WO90/07861; and Riechmann et al., Nature, 332:323-327 (1988); Huse et al, Science, 246:1275-1281 (1988)a).

Given the disclosure contained herein, one of skill in the art may generate chimeric, humanized or fully human antibodies directed against Omp85 or antigenic fragments thereof by resort to known techniques by manipulating the complementarity determining regions of animal or human antibodies to the antigen of this invention. See, e.g., E. Mark and Padlin, “Humanization of Monoclonal Antibodies”, Chapter 4, The Handbook of Experimental Pharmacology, Vol. 113, The Pharmacology of Monoclonal Antibodies, Springer-Verlag (June, 1994).

Alternatively, the antigens are assembled as multi-antigenic complexes (see, e.g., European Patent Application 0339695, published Nov. 2, 1989) or as simple mixtures of antigenic proteins/peptides and employed to elicit high titer antibodies capable of binding the selected antigen(s) as it appears in the biological fluids of an infected animal or human.

Further provided by the present invention are anti-idiotype antibodies (Ab2) and anti-anti-idiotype antibodies (Ab3). Ab2 are specific for the target to which anti-Omp85 antibodies of the invention bind and Ab3 are similar to Omp85 antibodies (Ab1) in their binding specificities and biological activities (see, e.g., M. Wettendorff et al . . . , “Modulation of anti-tumor immunity by anti-idiotypic antibodies.” in Idiotypic Network and Diseases, ed. by J. Cerny and J. Hiernaux J, Am. Soc. Microbiol., Washington D.C.: pp. 203-229, (1990)). These anti-idiotype and anti-anti-idiotype antibodies are produced using techniques well known to those of skill in the art. Such anti-idiotype antibodies (Ab2) can bear the internal image of Omp85 or fragments thereof and are thus useful for the same-purposes as Omp85 or the fragments.

In general, polyclonal antisera, monoclonal antibodies and other antibodies which bind to the selected antigen (Ab1) are useful to identify epitopes of Omp85 to separate Omp85 and analogs thereof from contaminants in living tissue (e.g., in chromatographic columns and the like), and in general as research tools and as starting material essential for the development of other types of antibodies described above. Anti-idiotype antibodies (Ab2) are useful for binding the same target and thus may be used in place of the original antigen, e.g., Omp85, to induce an immune response. The Ab3 antibodies are useful for the same reason the Abl are useful. Other uses as research tools and as components for separation of Omp85 from other contaminants, for example, are also contemplated for the above-described antibodies.

For use in diagnostic assays, the antibodies are associated with conventional labels which are capable, alone or in concert with other compositions or compounds, of providing a detectable signal. Where more than one antibody is employed in a diagnostic method, the labels are desirably interactive to produce a detectable signal. Most desirably, the label is detectable visually, e.g. colorimetrically. A variety of enzyme systems have been described in the art which will operate to reveal a colorimetric signal in an assay. As one example, glucose oxidase (which uses glucose as a substrate) releases peroxide as a product. Peroxidase, which reacts with peroxide and a hydrogen donor such as tetramethyl benzidine (TMB) produces an oxidized TMB that is seen as a blue color. Other examples include horseradish peroxidase (HRP) or alkaline phosphatase (AP), and hexokinase in conjunction with glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase which reacts with ATP, glucose, and NAD+ to yield, among other products, NADH that is detected as increased absorbance at 340 nm wavelength. Other label systems that may be utilized in the methods of this invention are detectable by-other means, e.g., colored latex microparticles (Bangs Laboratories, Indiana) in which a dye is embedded may be used in place of enzymes to form conjugates with the antibodies and provide a visual signal indicative of the presence of the resulting complex in applicable assays. Still other labels include fluorescent compounds, radioactive compounds or elements. Detectable labels for attachment to antibodies useful in diagnostic assays of this invention may be easily selected from among numerous compositions known and readily available to one skilled in the art of diagnostic assays. The methods and antibodies of this invention are not limited by the particular detectable label or label system employed.

V. Diagnostic Methods and Assays

The present invention also provides methods of diagnosing infections and diseases caused by infection with N. gonorrhoeae, N. meningitidis or possibly other species of pathogen which have homologous proteins to the Omp85 proteins of this invention. These diagnostic methods are useful for diagnosing humans having non-symptomatic infection or exhibiting the clinical symptoms of gonococcal or meningococcal disease, or possibly any of the other diseases caused by homologous bacterial species.

In one embodiment, this diagnostic method involves detecting the presence of naturally occurring anti-Omp85 antibodies which are produced by the infected human or animal patient's immune system in its biological fluids, and which are capable of binding to the antigens of this invention or combinations thereof. This method comprises the steps of incubating a Omp85 antigen or antigenic fragment of this invention with a sample of biological fluid or tissue from the patient. Antibodies present in the fluids as a result of bacterial infection will form an antibody-antigen complex with the antigen. Subsequently the reaction mixture is analyzed to determine the presence or absence of these antigen-antibody complexes. The step of analyzing the reaction mixture can comprise detecting a label associated with the Omp85 antigen, or contacting the reaction mixture with a labeled specific binding partner for the antibody or antibody.

In one embodiment of the method, purified antigen, fragment or mixture of antigens is electro- or dot-blotted onto nitrocellulose paper. Subsequently, the biological fluid (e.g. serum or plasma) is incubated with the blotted antigen, and antibody in the biological fluid is allowed to bind to the antigen(s). The bound antibody is then detected by standard immunoenzymatic methods.

In another embodiment of the method, latex beads are conjugated to the antigen(s) of this invention. Subsequently, the biological fluid is incubated with the bead/protein conjugate, thereby forming a reaction mixture. The reaction mixture is then analyzed to determine the presence of the antibodies.

In another embodiment, the diagnostic method of the invention involves detecting the presence of the naturally occurring Omp85 itself in its association with the Neisseriae pathogen in the biological fluids or tissue of an animal or human infected by the pathogen. This method includes the steps of incubating an antibody of this invention (e.g. produced by administering to a suitable human and/or animal an antigen of this invention preferably conventionally labeled for detection) with a biological sample from a human or an animal to be diagnosed. In the presence of infection of the human or animal patient, an antigen-antibody complex is formed (specific binding occurs). Subsequently, excess labeled antibody is optionally removed, and the reaction mixture is analyzed to determine the presence or absence of the antigen-antibody complex and the amount of label associated therewith.

Assays employing a protein antigen of the invention can be heterogenous (i.e., requiring a separation step) or homogenous. If the assay is heterogenous, a variety of separation means can be employed, including centrifugation, filtration, chromatography, or magnetism.

One preferred assay for the screening of blood products or other physiological or biological fluids is an enzyme linked immunosorbant assay, i.e., an ELISA. Typically in an ELISA, the isolated antigen(s) of the invention is adsorbed to the surface of a microtiter well directly or through a capture matrix (i.e., antibody). Residual protein-binding sites on the surface are then blocked with an appropriate agent, such as bovine serum albumin (BSA), heat-inactivated normal goat serum (NGS), or BLOTTO (a buffered solution of nonfat dry milk which also contains a preservative, salts, and an antifoaming agent). The well is then incubated with a biological sample suspected of containing specific anti-N. gonorrhoeae or N. meningitidis antibody. The sample can be applied neat, or more often, it can be diluted, usually in a buffered solution which contains a small amount (0.1-5.0% by weight) of protein, such as BSA, NGS, or BLOTTO. After incubating for a sufficient length of time to allow specific binding to occur, the well is washed to remove unbound protein and then incubated with labeled anti-human immunoglobulin (αHuIg) or labeled antibodies to other species, e.g., dogs. The label can be chosen from a variety of enzymes, including horseradish peroxidase (HRP), β-galactosidase, alkaline phosphatase, and glucose oxidase, as described above. Sufficient time is allowed for specific binding to occur again, then the well is washed again to remove unbound conjugate, and the substrate for the enzyme is added. Color is allowed to develop and the optical density of the contents of the well is determined visually or instrumentally.

Further, MAbs or other antibodies of this invention which are capable of binding to the antigen(s) can be bound to ELISA plates. In another diagnostic method, the biological fluid is incubated on the antibody-bound plate and washed. Detection of any antigen-antibody complex and qualitative measurement of the labeled MAb are performed conventionally, as described above.

Other useful assay formats include the filter cup and dipstick. In the former assay, an antibody of this invention is fixed to a sintered glass filter to the opening of a small cap. The biological fluid or sample (5 ml) is worked through the filter. If the antigen is present (i.e., N. gonorrhoeae infection), it will bind to the filter which is then visualized through a second antibody/detector. The dipstick assay involves fixing an antigen or antibody to a filter, which is then dipped in the biological fluid, dried and screened with a detector molecule.

Other diagnostic assays can employ the omp85 gene sequences or fragments of this invention as nucleic acid probes or an anti-sense sequences, which can identify the presence of infection in the biological fluid by hybridizing to complementary sequences produced by the pathogen in the biological fluids. Such techniques, such as PCR, Northern or Southern hybridizations etc. are well known in the art. For this purpose, the nucleic acid sequences or fragments of this invention may be conventionally labelled by well known techniques, possibly employing one or more of the labels described above with reference to use of the antibodies, or with labels more suited for attachment to nucleic acids. Selection of such labels is a routine matter and does not limit this invention.

It should be understood by one of skill in the art that any number of conventional protein assay formats, particularly immunoassay formats, or nucleic acid assay formats, may be designed to utilize the isolated antigens and antibodies or their nucleic acid sequences or anti-sense sequences of this invention for the detection of N. gonorrhoeae or N. meningitidis infection (as well as infection with other bacteria characterized by antigens homologous to the Omp85 antigens of this invention) in animals and humans. This invention is thus not limited by the selection of the particular assay format, and is believed to encompass assay formats which are known to those of skill in the art.

VI. Diagnostic Kits

For convenience, reagents for ELISA or other assays according to this invention may be provided in the form of kits. Such kits are useful for diagnosing bacterial infection in a human or an animal sample. Such a diagnostic kit contains an antigen of this invention and/or at least one antibody capable of binding an antigen of this invention, or the nucleic acid sequences encoding such Omp85 antigens or antibodies or their anti-sense sequences. Alternatively, such kits may contain a simple mixture of such antigens or nucleic acid sequences, or means for preparing a simple mixture.

These kits can include microtiter plates to which the antigenic proteins or antibodies or nucleic acid sequences of the invention have been pre-adsorbed, various diluents and-buffers, labeled conjugates for the detection of specifically bound antigens or antibodies, or nucleic acids and other signal-generating reagents, such as enzyme substrates, cofactors and chromogens. Other components of these kits can easily be determined by one of skill in the art. Such components may include polyclonal or monoclonal capture antibodies, antigen of this invention, or a cocktail of two or more of the antibodies, purified or semi-purified extracts of these antigens as standards, MAb detector antibodies, an anti-mouse or anti-human antibody with indicator molecule conjugated thereto, an ELISA plate prepared for absorption, indicator charts for calorimetric comparisons, disposable gloves, decontamination instructions, applicator sticks or containers, and a sample preparator cup. Such kits provide a convenient, efficient way for a clinical laboratory to diagnose N. gonorrhoeae or N. meningiditus infection.

VII. Therapeutic and Vaccine Compositions

A. Protein-Containing Therapeutic and Vaccine Compositions

The antigens and antibodies of the invention, alone or in combination with other antigens and antibodies of, or directed to, other pathogenic microorganisms may further be used in therapeutic compositions and in methods for treating humans and/or animals with non-symptomatic infection or symptomatic disease caused by N. gonorrhoeae, N. meningitidis or the other pathogens identified above.

For example, one such therapeutic composition may be formulated to contain a carrier or diluent and one or more of the anti-Omp85 antibodies of the invention. In compositions containing the Omp85 antigen or antibodies thereto, i.e., protein components, suitable pharmaceutically acceptable carriers may be employed that facilitate administration of the proteins but are physiologically inert and/or nonharmful.

A variety of such pharmaceutically acceptable protein carriers, and/or components suitable for administration therewith may be selected by one of skill in the art. For example, pharmaceutical carriers include, without limitation, sterile saline, lactose, sucrose, calcium phosphate, gelatin, dextran,-agar, pectin, peanut oil, olive oil, sesame oil, and water. Additionally, the carrier or diluent may include a time delay material, such as glycerol monostearate or glycerol distearate alone or with a wax. In addition, slow release polymer formulations can be used. Liposomes or liposomal-like vehicles may also be employed.

Optionally, these compositions may also contain conventional pharmaceutical ingredients, such as preservatives, or chemical stabilizers. Suitable ingredients which may be used in a therapeutic composition in conjunction with the antibodies include, for example, casamino acids, sucrose, gelatin, phenol red, N-Z amine, monopotassium diphosphate, lactose, lactalbumin hydrolysate, and dried milk.

Alternatively, or in addition to the antigens or antibodies of the invention, other agents useful in treating the disease in question, e.g., antibiotics or immunostimulatory agents and cytokine regulation elements, are expected to be useful in reducing or eliminating disease symptoms. Such agents may operate in concert with the therapeutic compositions of this invention. The development of therapeutic compositions containing these agents is within the skill of one in the art in view of the teachings of this invention.

Additionally, the therapeutic compositions may be polyvalent. Such compositions may contain therapeutic components from other bacterial or viral pathogens, e.g., components of bacterial species homologous to Neiserriae or heterologous thereto and/or antigens from a disease-causing virus. Depending upon the compatibility of the components, the Omp85 antibodies or antigens of this invention may thus be part of a multi-component therapeutic composition directed at more than a single disease.

As a further embodiment of this invention, a therapeutic method involves treating a human or an animal for infection with N. gonorrhoeae or N. meningitidis by administering an effective amount of such a therapeutic composition. An “effective amount” of a proteinaceous composition may be between about 0.05 to about 1000 μg/ml of an antibody or antigen of the invention. A suitable dosage may be about 1.0 ml of such an effective amount. Such a composition may be administered 1-3 times per day over a 1 day to 12 week period. However, suitable dosage adjustments for protein or nucleic acid containing compositions may be made by the attending physician or veterinarian depending upon the age, sex, weight and general health of the human or animal patient. Preferably, such a composition is administered parenterally, preferably intramuscularly or subcutaneously. However, it may also be formulated to be administered by any other suitable route, including orally or topically. The selection of the route of delivery and dosage of such therapeutic compositions is within the skill of the art.

In another embodiment, the Omp85 antigens, antibodies, and fragments of the invention, alone or in combination with other antigens, antibodies, and fragments from other microorganisms, may further be used in compositions directed to induce a protective immune response in a subject to the pathogen. These components of the present invention are also useful in methods for inducing a protective immune response in humans and/or animals against infection with N. gonorrhoeae, N. meningitidis or the other pathogens identified above.

In one embodiment, an outer membrane protein antigen-based vaccine for the prevention of non-symptomatic gonococcal infection or symptomatic disease, non-symptomatic meningococcal infection and symptomatic disease, and other diseases in humans and other animals is provided which contains an effective amount of the Omp85 antigen of this invention, and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier or diluent. This vaccine composition may contain one or more of the isolated, recombinant, modified or multimeric forms of the Omp85 antigen of the invention, or mixtures thereof. Similarly, salts of the antigenic proteins may be employed in such compositions.

In another embodiment of this invention, a polyvalent vaccine composition may include not only the Omp85 antigen or immunogenic fragment thereof, but may also include antigens from other disease-causing agents. Such other agents may be antigens from other Neisseriae strains. Such other agents may be antigens from completely distinct bacterial pathogens or from viral pathogens. Combinations of the antigen(s) of this invention with other antigens or fragments thereof are also encompassed by this invention for the purpose of inducing a protective immune response in the vaccinated subject to more than a single pathogen. The selection of these other vaccine components is not a limitation of the present invention, and may be left to one of skill in the art.

Such proteinaceous vaccines may include exemplary carriers as described above for therapeutic compositions. Optionally, the vaccine compositions may optionally contain adjuvants, preservatives, chemical stabilizers, as well as other conventionally employed vaccine additives. Typically, stabilizers, adjuvants, and preservatives are optimized to determine the best formulation for efficacy in the target human or animal. Suitable exemplary preservatives include chlorobutanol, potassium sorbate, sorbic acid, sulfur dioxide, propyl gallate, the parabens, ethyl vanillin, glycerin, phenol, and parachlorophenol.

With regard to the adjuvant, one or more of the above described vaccine components may be admixed or adsorbed with a conventional adjuvant. The adjuvant is used to attract leukocytes or enhance an immune response. Such adjuvants include, among others, RIBI adjuvant, mineral oil and water, aluminum hydroxide, AMPHIGEN adjuvant, ADJUVAX adjuvant, AVRIDINE adjuvant, L121/squalene, D-lactide-polylactide/glycoside, pluronic plyois, muramyl dipeptide, killed Bordetella, and saponins, such as Quil A.

The invention thus also encompasses a prophylactic method entailing administering to an animal or human an effective amount of such a composition. The protein antigenic composition is administered in an “effective amount”, that is, an amount of antigen that is effective in a route of administration to provide a vaccinal benefit, i.e., protective immunity. Suitable amounts of the antigen can be determined by one of skill in the art based upon the level of immune response desired. In general, however, the vaccine composition contains between 1 ng to 1000 mg antigen, and more preferably, 0.05 μg to 1 mg per ml of antigen. Suitable doses of the vaccine composition of the invention can be readily determined by one of skill in the art. Generally, a suitable dose is between 0.1 to 5 ml of the vaccine composition. Further, depending upon the human patient or the animal species being treated, i.e. its weight, age, and general health, the dosage can also be determined readily by one of skill in the art.

In general, the vaccine can be administered once; and optionally boosters can be administered periodically thereafter. The vaccine may be administered by any suitable route. However, parenteral administration, particularly intramuscular, and subcutaneous, is the preferred route. Also preferred is the oral route of administration. Routes of administration may be combined, if desired, or adjusted.

In still another vaccine embodiment, the invention includes a composition which delivers passive protection against infection by the pathogen. For this composition, the antibodies against the Omp85 proteins disclosed herein are useful to provide to the subject a short-term, passive immune protection against infection. These passive immunity vaccine compositions may contain antibodies to other pathogens and suitable vaccine additives as described above, e.g., adjuvants, etc. These compositions may be administered in dosages similar to those described above for the compositions which actively induce immune protection in the vaccinated subject.

B. Nucleic Acid Containing Compositions

The nucleic acid sequences or anti-sense sequences of the invention, alone or in combination with other nucleic acid sequences encoding antigens or antibodies of, or directed to other pathogenic microorganisms may further be used in therapeutic compositions and in methods for treating-humans and/or animals with the disease caused by infection with N. gonorrhoeae, N. meningitidis or the other pathogens identified above. In another embodiment, the nucleic acid sequences of this invention, alone or in combination with nucleic acid sequences encoding other antigens or antibodies from other pathogenic microorganisms, may further be used in compositions directed to actively induce a protective immune response in a subject to the pathogen. These components of the present invention are useful in methods for inducing a protective immune response in humans and/or animals against infection with N. gonorrhoeae, N. meningitidis or the other pathogens identified above.

For use in the preparation of the therapeutic or vaccine compositions, nucleic acid delivery compositions and methods are useful, which are known to those of skill in the art. The omp85 sequences or fragments thereof (or anti-sense sequences as desired) may be employed in the methods of this invention or in the compositions described herein as DNA sequences, either administered as naked DNA, or associated with a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier. These sequences provide for in vivo expression of the Omp85 protein or peptide or provide for production of anti-sense sequences which can bind to the Omp85 protein in the subject due to infection. So-called ‘naked DNA’ may be used to express the Omp85 protein or peptide fragment (or anti-sense sequences) in vivo in a patient. See, e.g., J. Cohen, Science, 259:1691-1692 (Mar. 19, 1993); E. Fynan et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci., USA, 90: 11478-11482 (December 1993); J. A. Wolff et al., Biotechniques, 11:474-485 (1991) which describe similar uses of ‘naked DNA’, all incorporated by reference herein. For example, “naked” omp85 DNA (or anti-sense sequences) associated with regulatory sequences may be administered therapeutically or as part of the vaccine composition e.g., by injection.

Alternatively, omp85 DNA or anti-sense DNA may be administered as part of a vector or as a cassette containing the Omp85-encoding DNA sequences or fragments or anti-sense sequences thereof operatively linked to a promoter sequence and other plasmid sequences. Briefly, the DNA encoding the Omp85 protein (or anti-sense sequence) or desired fragment thereof may be inserted into a nucleic acid cassette. This cassette may be engineered to contain, in addition to the omp85 sequence to be expressed (or anti-sense sequence), other optional flanking sequences which enable its insertion into a vector. This cassette may then be inserted into an appropriate DNA vector downstream of a promoter, an mRNA leader sequence, an initiation site and other regulatory sequences capable of directing the replication and expression of that sequence in vivo. This vector permits infection of vaccinate's cells and expression of the omp85 (or anti-sense sequence) in vivo.

Numerous types of appropriate vectors are known in the art for protein expression and may be designed by standard molecular biology techniques. Such vectors are selected from among conventional vector types including insects, e.g., baculovirus expression, or yeast, fungal, bacterial or viral expression systems. Methods for obtaining such vectors are well-known. See, Sambrook et al., Molecular Cloning. A Laboratory Manual, 2d edition, Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, New York (1989); Miller et al., Genetic Engineering, 8:277-298 (Plenum Press 1986) and references cited therein. Recombinant viral vectors, such as retroviruses or adenoviruses, are preferred for integrating the exogenous DNA into the chromosome of the cell.

Also where desired, the regulatory sequences in such a vector which control and direct expression of the omp85 gene product or anti-sense sequence in the transfected cell include an inducible promoter. Inducible promoters are those which “turn on” expression of the gene when in the presence of an inducing agent. Examples of suitable inducible promoters include, without limitation, the sheep metallothionine (MT) promoter, the mouse mammary tumor virus (MMTV), the tet promoter, etc. The inducing agents may be a glucocorticoid such as dexamethasone, for, e.g., the MMTV promoter, or a metal, e.g., zinc, for the MT promoter; or an antibiotic, such as tetracycline for tet promoter. Still other inducible promoters may be selected by one of skill in the art, such as those identified in International patent application WO95/13392, published May 18, 1995, and incorporated by reference herein. The identity of the inducible promoter is not a limitation of this invention.

When omp85 nucleic acid sequences or anti-sense sequences are employed as the therapeutic agent or vaccine agent as ‘naked DNA’ operatively linked to a selected promoter sequence, rather than the protein itself, the amounts of DNA to be delivered and the routes of delivery may parallel the protein amounts for vaccine or therapeutic delivery described above and may also be determined readily by one of skill in the art.

Thus, as one preferred example, a therapeutic composition may be formulated to contain a carrier or diluent and one or more plasmid or DNA molecule or recombinant virus containing a nucleic acid sequence which is anti-sense to the omp85 gene sequence (SEQ ID NO: 1 or 3), a fragment thereof, under control of suitable sequences regulating the expression thereof. In compositions containing the anti-sense omp85 nucleic acid sequences, vehicles suitable for delivery of DNA may be employed.

Additionally, these therapeutic compositions may be polyvalent. Such compositions may contain therapeutic components which are anti-sense sequences of other bacterial or viral origin, e.g., the anti-sense sequence of components of bacterial species homologous to Neiserriae or heterologous thereto and/or anti-sense sequence derived from antigens from a disease-causing virus. Depending upon the compatibility of the components, the anti-sense sequences to the Omp85 antigens of this invention may thus be part of a multi-component therapeutic composition directed at more than a single disease.

As a further embodiment of this invention, a therapeutic method involves treating a human or an animal for infection with N. gonorrhoeae or N. meningitidis by administering an effective amount of such a therapeutic nucleic-acid containing composition. An “effective amount” of a nucleic acid composition may be calculated as that amount capable of expressing in vivo the above effective amounts of exogenously delivered proteins. Such amounts may be determined by one of skill in the art. Preferably, such a composition is administered parenterally, preferably intramuscularly or subcutaneously. However, it may also be formulated to be administered by any other suitable route, including orally or topically. The selection of the route of delivery and dosage of such therapeutic compositions is within the skill of the art.

As another example, a vaccine composition of this invention may be a DNA vaccine, which includes the omp85 DNA sequence (SEQ ID NOS: 1 or 3) or a fragment thereof which encodes an immunogenic protein or peptide, optionally under the control of regulatory sequences. In one embodiment, this vaccine composition may contain a nucleic acid sequence that encodes one or more of the isolated, recombinant, modified or multimeric forms of the Omp85 antigen of the invention, or mixtures thereof.

In another embodiment of this invention, polyvalent vaccine compositions may include not only the nucleic acid sequence encoding the Omp85 antigen or an immunogenic fragment thereof, but may also include nucleic acid sequences encoding antigens from other disease-causing agents. Such other agents may be antigens from other Neisseriae strains. Such other agents may be nucleic acid sequences encoding antigens from completely distinct bacterial pathogens or from viral pathogens. Combinations of the antigen-encoding sequences of this invention with other nucleic acid sequences encoding antigens or fragments thereof from other pathogens are also encompassed by this invention for the purpose of inducing a protective immune response in the vaccinated subject to more than a single pathogen. The selection of these other vaccine components is not a limitation of the present invention, and may be left to one of skill in the art.

Such “DNA” or nucleic acid vaccines may include exemplary carriers as described above for therapeutic compositions and, where suitable, the components or additives described above with reference to the proteinaceous compositions, e.g. adjuvants, preservatives, chemical stabilizers, etc. as well as other conventionally employed vaccine additives. Additives suitable for use in nucleic acid compositions are known to those of skill in the art, including certain lipids and liposomes, among other known components.

Generally, a suitable nucleic acid-based treatment contains between 1×10⁻³ plaque forming unit (pfu) to 1×10¹² pfu per dose, if a virus is the delivery vector. Otherwise, the dosage is adjusted to provide the same amount of expressed protein as is provided by the protein vaccines. However, the dose, timing and mode of administration of these compositions may be determined by one of skill in the art. Such factors as the age, and physical condition of the vaccinate may be taken into account in determining the dose, timing and mode of administration of the immunogenic or vaccine composition of the invention.

VIII. Drug Screening and Development

The proteins, antibodies and polynucleotide sequences of the present invention may also be used in the screening and development of chemical compounds or proteins which have utility as therapeutic drugs or vaccines for the treatment or diagnosis or prevention of diseases caused by infection with N. gonorrhoeae or N. meningitidis, and possibly for the other microorganisms having homologous proteins to Omp85. As one example, a compound capable of binding to Omp85 and preventing its biological activity may be a useful drug component for the treatment or prevention of such non-symptomatic gonococcal infection or symptomatic diseases as gonorrhea and non-symptomatic meningococcal infection and symptomatic disease, e.g., spinal meningitis, among others. The methods described herein may also be applied to fragments of Omp85.

Suitable assay methods may be readily determined by one of skill in the art. Where desired, and depending on the assay selected, the selected antigen(s), e.g., Omp85 or fragment thereof, may be immobilized directly or indirectly (e.g., via an Omp85 antibody) on a suitable surface, e.g., in an ELISA format. Such immobilization surfaces are well known. For example, a wettable inert bead may be used. Alternatively, the selected antigen, e.g., Omp85, may be used in screening assays which do not require immobilization, e.g., in the screening of combinatorial libraries. Assays and techniques exist for the screening and development of drugs capable of binding to an antigen of this invention, e.g., Omp85. These include the use of phage display system for expressing the antigenic protein(s), and using a culture of transfected E. coli or other microorganism to produce the proteins for binding studies of potential binding compounds. See, for example, the techniques described in G. Cesarini, FEBS Letters, 307(1):66-70 (July 1992); H. Gram et al., J. Immunol. Meth., 161:169-176 (1993); C. Summer et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci., USA, 89:3756-3760 (May 1992), incorporated by reference herein.

Other conventional drug screening techniques may be employed using the proteins, antibodies or polynucleotide sequences of this invention. As one example, a method for identifying compounds which specifically bind to a protein of this invention, e.g., Omp85, can include simply the steps of contacting a selected Omp85 protein with a test compound to permit binding of the test compound to Omp85; and determining the amount of test compound, if any, which is bound to the Omp85 protein. Such a method may involve the incubation of the test compound and the Omp85 protein immobilized on a solid support. Similar methods may be employed for one or more of the cassette string proteins.

Typically, the surface containing the immobilized ligand is permitted to come into contact with a solution containing the protein and binding is measured using an appropriate detection system. Suitable detection systems include the streptavidin horse radish peroxidase conjugate, direct conjugation by a tag, e.g., fluorescein. Other systems are well known to those of skill in the art. This invention is not limited by the detection system used.

Another method of identifying compounds which specifically bind to Omp85 or another protein of this invention can include the steps of contacting the protein, e.g., Omp85, immobilized on a solid support with both a test compound and the protein sequence which is a receptor for Omp85 to permit binding of the receptor to the Omp85 protein; and determining the amount of the receptor which is bound to the Omp85 protein. The inhibition of binding of the normal protein by the test compound thereby indicates binding of the test compound to the Omp85 protein.

Still other conventional methods of drug screening can involve employing a suitable computer program to determine compounds having similar or complementary chemical structures to that of the Omp85 proteins (SEQ HD NOS: 2 and 4), and screening those compounds for competitive binding to Omp85. Such programs include the GRID program available from Oxford University, Oxford, UK. (P. J. Goodford, “A Computational Procedure for Determining Energetically Favorable Binding Sites on Biologically Important Macromolecules”, J. Med. Chem., 28:849-857 (1985)); the MCSS program available from Molecular Simulations, Burlington, Mass. (A. Miranker and M. Karplus, “Functionality Maps of Binding Sites: A Multiple Copy Simultaneous Search Method”, Proteins: Structure, Function and Genetics, 11:29-34 (1991)); the AUTODOCK program available from Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, Calif. (D. S. Goodsell and A. J. Olsen, “Automated Docking of Substrates to Proteins by Simulated Annealing”, Proteins: Structure, Function, and Genetics, 8:195-202 (1990)); and the DOCK program available from University of California, San Francisco, Calif. (I. D. Kuntz et al., “A Geometric Approach to Macromolecule-Ligand Interactions”, J. Mol. Biol., 161:269-288 (1982)). Additional commercially available computer databases for small molecular compounds include Cambridge Structural Database, Fine Chemical Database, and CONCORD database. For a review see Rusinko, A., Chem. Des. Auto. News, 8:44-47 (1993).

Thus, the invention provides a method of identifying a pharmacomimetic of Omp85 of N. gonorrhoeae or N. meningitidis by using a combination of steps including identifying a compound which binds to Omp85 by screening said Omp85 against a battery of compounds. Computer modelling of the three dimensional structure of Omp85 or of the previously identified binding compound permits the identification of a compound with the same three dimensional structure as either Omp85 or its binding compound. The compound selected from these tests is then screened for the biological activity of Omp85 or of a compound that binds Omp85, such as the development of antisera effective in the assay of Example 8 or competitive effect in that assay, respectively.

Thus, through use of such methods, the present invention is anticipated to provide compounds capable of interacting with Omp85 or portions thereof, and either enhancing or decreasing its biological activity, as desired. Such compounds are believed to be encompassed by this invention.

The following examples are provided to illustrate the invention and do not limit the scope thereof. One skilled in the art will appreciate that although specific reagents and conditions are outlined in the following examples, modifications can be made which are meant to be encompassed by the spirit and scope of the invention.

EXAMPLE 1 Bacterial Strains, Cells, Methods and Culture Conditions

N. gonorrhoeae strains FA19, FA635, FA1090, JS1, F62 and MS11LosA used in the examples below were provided by Dr. William M. Shafer (Emory University, Atlanta, Ga.) Dr. John Swanson (Rocky Mountain Laboratories, Hamilton, Mont.) or the American Type Culture Collection 10801 University Boulevard, Manassas, Va. 20110-2209. N. meningitidis strains MP78, MP3, MP81, and HH were provided by Dr. Mark S. Peppler (University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada) and Dr. Zell McGee (University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah). All other strains were acquired from the American Type Culture Collection. Moraxella catarrhalis (ATCC#8193) and Neisserial strains were grown on clear gonococcal typing media (Swanson J., Infect. Immun., 19: 320-331 (1978)). E. coli and all other Gram negative strains were grown an Luria broth.

E. coli XL1-Blue and SOLR cells were obtained from Stratagene Cloning Systems (La Jolla, Calif.). DNA fragments were purified from agarose gels using GENE CLEAN™ II (Bio101, La Jolla, Calif.). Plasmids were purified using the QIAPREP™ quick spin kit (Qiagen, Chatsworth, Calif.). Immunoblotting was done with MILLIPORE IMMOBILON™ PVDF reagent (Bedford, Mass.). Unless specified otherwise in the examples below, all reagents were obtained from Sigma Chemical Co. (St. Louis, Mo.).

EXAMPLE 2 Cloning and Immunological Screening of a Gonococcal Genomic Library

A genomic DNA library was produced by purifying N. gonorrhoeae strain FA19 genomic DNA and partially digesting the DNA into fragments with the restriction endonuclease Tsp509 (New England Biolabs). These DNA fragments were ligated with T4 DNA ligase (New England Biolabs) into the EcoRI restriction site of the lambda ZAP II™ bacteriophage vector (Stratagene Cloning Systems, La Jolla, Calif.). The ligated phage DNA was packaged, and plated on E. coli DH5α (Gibco BRL, Gaithersburg, Md.) host cells. The resulting library was screened immunologically for the expression of gonococcal surface proteins according to protocols provided with the Lambda ZAP II™ vector system. The plaques from the library were screened with anti-GC-OM, an antiserum raised to isolated gonococcal outer membranes.

Plasmid DNA was rescued from phage producing immunoreactive plaques. The plasmid, pDR4, contained a 2.6 kbp gonococcal DNA insert. The gonococcal DNA in pDR4 was subcloned into pUP1 (Elkins C., J. Bacteriol., 173: 3911-3913 (1991), generously provided by Dr. Chris Elkins (University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, N.C.) yielding pOmp85.

The cloned gonococcal DNA-fragment in pOmp85 was characterized by restriction enzyme analysis. The fragment contained three internal HincII restriction sites which allowed the subcloning of three fragments into PBluescript™ plasmid (Stratagene Cloning Systems, La Jolla, Calif.). These fragments and pDR4 were sequenced by the University of Montana Molecular Biology Facility. A gene-walking strategy was used to sequence those regions which could not be sequenced with universal vector primers. The entire length of the gonococcal DNA fragment was sequenced at least twice and most of the DNA was sequenced from both strands. The deduced amino acid sequence and comparisons of Omp85 homologs were obtained with the MACVECTOR™ software package (Eastman Chemical Co., New Haven, Conn.).

The 2.6 kb gonococcal DNA in pOmp85 was found to contain a large open reading frame (ORF) which encoded a polypeptide of 792 amino acids with a predicted molecular weight of 87.8 kDa (FIGS. 2A-2C) (SEQ ID NO:2). The polypeptide contained a putative signal peptide (Von Heijne G., Nuc. Acids Res., 14: 4683-4690 (1986)). Removal of this signal peptide yielded a mature polypeptide with an 85.8 kDa predicted molecular weight. The polypeptide also possesses a carboxyl-terminal phenylalanine residue characteristic of outer membrane proteins (Struyve M. et al., J. Mol. Biol., 218: 141-148 (1991)). A ribosome-binding sequence preceded the initiation codon of the ORF. Potential promoter sequences were not readily apparent. The ORF was preceded and followed by putative rho-independent transcriptional stop sites. The approximately 85 kDa gonococcal protein expressed by pOmp85 was designated Omp85 and the gene encoding it was designated omp85.

EXAMPLE 3 Cloning and Sequencing of Meningococcal omp85

The meningococcal omp85 was obtained by PCR amplification using the Boehringer Mannheim-EXPAND-HIGH FIDELITY™ PCR System (Indianapolis, Ind.). The design of PCR primers was based on gonococcal omp85 and flanking sequences. The positive-sense omp85 PCR primer contained the first five codons of the gonococcal omp85 with an EcoRI restriction site and two extra nucleotides added to the 5′ end (CGGAATTCATGAAACTGAAACAG) (SEQ ID NO: 5). The negative-sense omp85 PCR primer contained the reverse-compliment of six codons (TTGCAGTTTTTGCAATTC) (SEQ ID NO: 6) of the gonococcal ompH sequence located 244 base pairs 3′ of omp85 termination codon. These primers were used in a PCR reaction with purified N. meningitidis HH DNA as template. The meningococcal omp85 PCR product was ligated into pUP1 to yield pMCOmp85. The sequence of the meningococcal omp85 was obtained essentially as described for the gonococcal omp85.

The meningococcal omp85 was found to encode a 797 amino acid polypeptide with a predicted molecular weight of 88.5 kDa (FIG. 5). The meningococcal Omp85 was 95% identical and 98% similar to gonococcal Omp85. Between amino acid residues 720 and 745, the menigococcal Omp85 varied substantially from gonococcal Omp85, including the insertion of five additional amino acids.

EXAMPLE 4 Presence of omp85 in Strains of N. gonorrhoeae and N. Meningitidis

A. Western Analysis

The Western blot analyses were performed as follows. Bacterial proteins were separated by SDS-PAGE (12.5%) (Laemmli UK, Nature, 227: 680-695 (1970)). The separated proteins were electrophoretically transferred onto PVDF as previously described (Judd R C., Anal. Biochem., 173: 307-316 (1988)). Blotting was performed in 20 mM sodium phosphate buffer, pH 8.0 for 2 hr at 600 mA. The PVDF membrane was blocked for 1 hr with PBS Tween at room temperature, incubated overnight in anti-GC-OM or anti-Omp85 sera at 4° C., washed several times, incubated with protein A-horseradish peroxidase conjugate (Boehringer Mannheim, Indianapolis, Ind.) and developed with 4-chloro-1-naphthol.

Western blot analysis of the proteins from E. coli DH5α/pOmp85 was performed by separating bacterial cell lysates by SDS-PAGE, staining with COOMASSIE BRILLIANT BLUE™ (CBB) stain or transferring the lysates to membranes and probing with anti-GC-OM serum. The results revealed expression of an approximately 85 kDa polypeptide that was reactive with the anti-GC-OM serum (FIG. 1).

Anti-GC-OM serum was reacted in Western blot analysis with total cell proteins from six representative strains of N. gonorrhoeae and four strains of N. meningitidis. Whole cell lysates of E. coli DH5α, E. coli DH5α/pOmp85, and N. gonorrhoeae strains FA19, FA635, FA1090, JS1, F62 and MS11LosA and N. meningitidis strains MP78, MP3, MP81 and HH were separated by 12.5% SDS-PAGE, blotted and probed with the anti-GC-OM serum. An immunoreactive, approximately 85 kDa protein band was detected in all strains of N. gonorrhoeae and N. meningitidis (FIG. 3), but not in the control E. coli DH5α.

B. Southern Analysis

The Southern analyses are performed as follows. Chromosomal DNA 20 was obtained by phenol extraction (Moore D., “Preparation and analysis of DNA”, in: Ausubel F M, et al., eds. Current Protocols in Molecular Biology. New York: John Wiley and Sons, (1997): 2.1.1-2.1.3) and then digested with various endonucleases. Digested DNA was electrophoretically separated on a 1% agarose gel and the DNA transferred to nitrocellulose with the BIO-RAD™ Model 785 vacuum blotter according to instructions and Southern (Southern E., J. Mol. Biol., 98: 503-510 (1975)). Probe DNA was extracted from agarose gels using Bio 101 glassmilk (Vista, Calif.). The probe was labeled and the blot probed with the AMERSHAM ECL™ system (Arlington Heights, Ill.).

A Southern blot (FIG. 4) illustrated the identification of omp85 in N. gonorrhoeae and N. meningitidis by Southern analysis. Genomic DNA from E. coli DH5α, N. gonorrhoeae FA19 and N. meningitidis strains MP3, MP73, MP81 and HH were digested with restriction endonucleases (Hincll, EcoRI, PstI, ClaI). Blots of the separated DNA digests were probed with a 688 bp fragment of gonococcal omp85 that extended from the most 3′ HincII site of omp85 to a HincII site in the vector near the 3′ end of the cloned gene. This fragment was used as a positive control.

In N. gonorrhoeae strain FA19 and in all of the N. meningitidis strains, the omp85 probe hybridized with a single DNA band. A single band was also identified in gonococcal strains FA635, FA1090, JS1, F62, and MS11 (data not shown). These results suggested that omp85 was conserved as a single copy in pathogenic Neisseria. Sequence data indicated that HincII cleaved omp85 internally at three sites. The probe hybridized to a fragment larger than itself in the HincII digest of gonococcal DNA (FA19—HincII). The genomic fragment resulted from an internal and external HincII cleavage; the probe lacked the flanking gonococcal sequence containing the external HincII site. The genomic HincII band that hybridized to the probe was probably derived from a single copy of the omp85 gene since it is unlikely that duplicate copies of the gene would have identically-located HincII sites, generating fragments of identical size.

The enzyme PstIl cleaved 309 base pairs from the 5′ end of omp85. The single fragment of PstI-digested gonococcal genomic DNA (FA19—PstI) which hybridized with the probe probably contained a single copy of the gene. It is possible, but unlikely, that the PstI fragments contained approximately 2 kbp segments of omp85 in inverted orientations at each end of the approximately 8 kbp fragment. Sequence data indicated that the enzymes ClaI and EcoRI did not cleave within omp85. The omp85 probe hybridized to single bands of similar size in the ClaI digested DNA of both N. gonorrhoeae and N. meningitidis. These bands suggested a single copy of omp85, since it is unlikely that bands this small (<6 kbp) contained two copies of the approximately 2.3 kbp gene and it is unlikely that the bands represent fragments of identical size from duplicate copies of the gene. Similar results were obtained for gonococcal strains FA635, FA1090, JS1, F62 and MS11 (data not shown). These results support the conclusion that omp85 is conserved as a single copy in pathogenic Neisseria.

EXAMPLE 5 Similarity to Known Proteins

The non-redundant Genbank CDS database was searched (Altchul S D. et al., J. Mol. Biol., 215: 403-407 (1990)) for proteins similar to gonococcal Omp85. The H. influenzae D-15-Ag was 31.5% identical and 61.4% similar (identical plus conserved) to gonococcal Omp85. The P. multocida Oma87 was 31.6% identical and 61.3% similar to Omp85. Several hypothetical proteins with similarity to Omp85 were identified. A Brucella abortus hypothetical protein (Genbank accession #U51683, Bearden, et al., unpublished) was 24.3% identical and 54.2% similar. A hypothetical E. coli protein (Genbank accession #U70214, Schramm, et al., unpublished) was 33% identical and 62% similar to Omp85. The gonococcal Omp85 was also similar to hypothetical proteins of Helicobacter pylori (Genbank assession #AE001178—Tomb J F. et al., Nature, 388: 539-547 (1997)), 23% identical and 51% similar, and Borrelia burgdorferi (Genbank assession #AE001178—Fraser C M. et al., Nature, 390: 580-586 (1997)), 18% identical and 46% similar.

EXAMPLE 6 Gene Organization and Flanking Genes

Several hundred base pairs of the DNA flanking the omp85 ORFs of both N. gonorrhoeae and N. meningitidis were sequenced. For both N. gonorrhoeae and N. meningitidis, a gene similar to ompH of Salmonella typhimurium (Kosk P. et al., J. Biol. Chem., 264:18973-18980 (1989)) was identified approximately 65 base pairs 3′ of the omp85 ORF. A gene similar to ompH has also been identified in the same relative position in H. influenzae (Fleischmann, R D et al., Science, 269: 496-512 (1995)) and P. multocida. In H. influenzae, a gene encoding a hypothetical protein, HI0918, was located 5′ of the D-15-Ag gene (Fleischmann, R D et al, Science, 269: 496-512 (1995)). A gene homologous to the H10918 gene was identified at the same relative position in N. gonorrhoeae. These results indicated that the gene arrangement around omp85 homologs was notably conserved.

EXAMPLE 7 Presence in Nesseriae and Other Species

Western blot analysis was used to determine if proteins similar to Omp85 were produced by commensal Neisseriae and by other Gram negative species. To allow more specific immunological analysis, an Omp85-specific polyvalent rabbit sera was produced through use of a fusion protein in which the first 200 amino acids of the gonococcal Omp85 were genetically fused to maltose binding protein (MBP).

A. Production of a MBP/Omp85 Fusion Protein

Fragments of gonococcal Omp885 were genetically fused to MBP, affinity purified and used to produce Omp85-specific antiserum. Tsp509I digested omp85 from pOmp85 was ligated into the EcoRI digested, maltose binding protein fusion vector, pMAL-c2 (New England Biolabs, Beverly, Mass.). Sequence analysis had revealed that this could result in the fusion of several different omp85 fragments in frame with malE in pMAL-c2. The ligated DNA was transformed into E. coli DH5α and the transformants were screened for the expression of Omp85 antigens with the anti-OM serum. A number of immunoreactive clones were identified and characterized. The plasmid in the most immunoreactive of these was designated pMO4 and determined by sequence analysis to express a fusion of MBP with the first 181 amino acids of Omp85. The MBP/Omp85 fusion protein was affinity purified from E. coli DH5α/pMO4 as previously described (Marchion D C et al, Mol. Microbiol., 6: 231-240 (1997)).

B. Raising of Anti-sera

Purified MBP/Omp85 was used to raise an anti-Omp85 sera in New Zealand white rabbits. The rabbits were initially immunized with 1 mg of protein in Freund's complete adjuvant administered subcutaneously. Two weeks later 1 mg was administered subcutaneously in Freund's incomplete adjuvant. The rabbits then received intravenous injections of 0.1 mg every two weeks for eight weeks. Sera was collected and absorbed (1:1) with a lysed culture of E. coli/pMal-c2 induced with 1 mM IPTG for 1 hour. The resulting rabbit serum was designated anti-Omp85.

C. Western Analysis of Representative Strains ofN. gonorrhoeae and N. meningitidis

The anti-Omp85 serum was used to probe Western blots containing cell lysates of E. coli DH5α, E. coli DH5α/pOmp85 and representative strains of N. gonorrhoeae and N. meningitidis (FIG. 6). Whole cell lysates of E. coli DH5α, E. coli DH5α/pOmp85, N. gonorrhoeae strains FA19, FA635, FA1090, JS1, F62 and MS11LosA, N. meningitidis strains MP78, MP3, MP81 and HH, and E. coli DH5α/pMCOmp85 were separated by 12.5% SDS-PAGE, blotted and probed with the anti-Omp85 serum.

The anti-Omp85 serum reacted with the recombinant Omp85 produced by E. coli DH5α/pOmp85 and with proteins of approximately 85 kDa in all of the N. gonorrhoeae and N. meningitidis strains tested. These results indicated that Omp85 was conserved in the pathogenic Neisseriae. Presorption of the antiserum removed the majority of non-specific antibodies, but complete removal of all reactive antibody is not possible, thus, some reactive bands can be seen in the E. coli lanes of FIG. 6. Reactive bands in the 35 kDa-42 kDa range in N. gonorrhoeae lanes are Por proteins, which non-specifically bind protein-A. Meningococcal Pors do not bind protein-A as strongly (data not shown).

D. Western Analysis of Commensal Nesseriae and Other Gram Negative Species

The anti-Omp85 was also used to probe Western blots containing cell lysates of commensal Nesseriae and several other Gram negative species. Whole cell lysates of E. coli DH5α, E. coli DH5α/pOmp85, N. gonorrhoeae FA19 (A), Neisseria pharyngis (A), Neisseria cinerea (A), Neisseria lactamica (B), Neisseria mucosae (B), Neisseria flavescens (C), Neisseria animalis (C), Neisseria denitrificans (C), Moraxella catarrhalis (D), Klebsiella pneumoniae, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and N. meningitidis HH (A) were separated in a 12.5% SDSαPAGE gel, blotted and probed with anti-Omp85. In a separate experiment, whole cell lysates of E. coli DH5α, E. coli DH5α/pOmp85, N. gonorrhoeae FA19, Salmonella typhimurium, Shigella flexneri, E. coli strains 35150 (enterohemorrhagic—EHEC), 35401 (enterotoxigenic—ETEC), 43887 (enteropathogenic—EPEC), 43892 (enteroinvasive—EIEC) and N. meningitidis were separated in a 12.5% SDS-PAGE gel, blotted and probed with anti-Omp85.

Two SDS-PAGE (FIGS. 7A and 7B) illustrate the distribution of Omp85 in pathogenic and commensal Neisseria (relationship areas A, B, C, and D) and related Gram negative bacteria. Omp85 homologs were identified in all of the commensal Neisserial species tested. This suggested that Omp85 was conserved among all the Neisserial species. The anti-Omp85 serum failed to identify any Omp85 homologs in Moraxella catarrhalis which is closely related to the Neisseriae (Rossau R. et al, Int. J. Syst. Bacteriol., 39: 185-198 (1989)). Southern analysis confirmed the absence of an omp85 homolog in this species (data not shown). The serum failed to identify any Omp85 homologs in Klebsiella pneumoniae, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Salmonella typhimurium, Shigella flexneri and four pathogenic strains of E. coli tested.

EXAMPLE 8 Gonococcal Cell Adherence Assay

Gonococcal cell adherence assays were performed to evaluate the effect of antiserum specific for outer membrane protein 85 (Omp85) on the ability of gonococcal strains MS11LOSA (MS11) and FA19 to bind to Chang epithelial cells. Fab fragments were prepared from antiserum to the first 178 amino acids of Omp85 (SEQ ID NO: 2), hyperimmune antiserum to bovine serum albumin (BSA) and normal rabbit serum (NRS) and added at 1 μg, 10 μgs or 100 μgs per ml to wells containing a confluent layer of Chang conjunctiva cells. Approximately 2.5×10⁵ bacteria (N. gonorrhoeae strain MS11 or FA19) were added to each well and allowed to adhere for 3 hours. Following fixation and immunogold/silver staining, the number of adherent gonococci was determined for 22 cells. The lowest and highest numbers were discarded and the average number of bacteria/cell were determined. The resulting data is reported in the bar graph of FIG. 8, indicating that Omp85-specific antibody was able to bind to the surface of the bacteria and interfere with the ability of the bacteria to adhere to the Chang epithelial cells.

All publications cited in this specification are indicative of the level of skill of those in the art to which this application pertains and are incorporated herein by reference herein. While the invention has been described with reference to a particularly preferred embodiment, it will be appreciated that modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of the invention. Such modifications are intended to fall within the scope of the appended claims. 

1. A method of producing an immunogenic composition comprising isolating a polypeptide comprising an amino acid sequence having 95% or greater sequence identity with the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 4, and providing said polypeptide with a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier, wherein said composition induces antibodies in a mammal that bind to said amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 4 and that interfere with adherence of Neisseria gonorrhoeae as measured by the gonococcal cell adherence assay.
 2. The method according to claim 1, wherein said polypeptide is fused to a second polypeptide or protein.
 3. The method according to claim 2, wherein said second polypeptide or protein is an antigen from a pathogenic bacterial species that is heterologous or homologous to Neisseria gonorrhoeae or Neisseria meningitidis.
 4. The method according to claim 1, wherein said composition further comprises an adjuvant. 